The days of being able to attend a Botcon or official Transformers convention at an affordable price for the majority have come to an end by unfair changes.  You'll notice when you look at the registration form that acceptable choices are no longer available to chose from.  There has also been a lack of clear explanation about the changes that have been made from previous conventions and, a refusal to maintain a proper dialogue with the fans through the forums.  This take "all or nothing, take it or leave it "attitude can not be allowed to continue and it must end here and now.

 

 

Numerous people are now no longer able to afford to attend Botcon 2005 since they released their prices.  Now that Master Collector has taken over the convention you have three choices if you attend the show.  We can take our chances with the $9.00 walk-in option that only gurantees attendance to the dealer room. We can pay $120.00 ($165.00 if you aren't a fan club member) just to get what you used to get for $40.00 except we are no longer offered a chance to buy the toys and are forced to pay for a casino night and a badge.  We can pay $265.00 ($315.00 if you aren't a club member) where we are required to pay for a dinner and a casino night, whether you participate or not, and it's the only package that contains the toys.  Obviously very few people are going to take their chances and fly in and pay for a hotel room to take their chances with $9.00 so the only reason that is offered is to talk us into the $120.00 ($165.00) package.  The problem with that package is the cost has tripled from previous years and added a penalty if you aren't a fan club member by quadrupling the cost, and the only extra stuff you get is a badge and $25.00 in casino chips.  What they should have done was slightly increased the cost of each event and item allowing people to still choose what they want to pay for while still providing an increased profit for the convention which would have helped everyone out.

 

 

Pete and Alverez are both members of the Botcon advisory panel, yet, in their replies they give no answers to the questions asked.  Instead of trying to help, they put out a simplistic sales pitch which boils down to “this is the way it is, it makes sense to us, you should come anyway, you have options, and it's a great valueâ€? spiel used to steamroll over questions and concerns to avoid any sort of real explanation to the fandom.  You won't hear the non member price in any of their sales pitches or justifications though.  They will compare the everybody-price of 2004 with their discounted price if you pay their $40.00 fan club membership premium.  Even after being told a sales pitch wasn't an acceptable answer and asked why they kept leaving out the non-member price, it's all that was continued to be said.  Opposition to their comments began to grow and they dealt with it by saying they would no longer talk about those questions or concerns, only new ones. Then they said increased profits were the reason for the registration changes and to not fear change.  When asked how the Protoform package broke down cost wise, how it was more profitable, and where the bulk of the profit came from, it went unanswered showing further proof they lacked any concern about the complaints or people's opinions and that they aren't really listening. 

 

 

Why aren't they listening to comments where people are saying they can no longer afford to go?  Why can we not get at least a semi-detailed answer that actually explains the whys?  How can they sit there and continue to say this will be profitable and that it's a good idea as attendance falls?  They are ignoring and alienating their customers who are already upset and only want solid information as to the why's and how's of the new changes.  In most business settings this leads to irritated customers that will usually take their business elsewhere.  Yet, they just shrug their shoulders and continue to say "all or nothing".  Again, it's an all or nothing attitude that shows Master Collector doesn't care what you want to pay for and what you don’t;  It's simply their way or the highway and they expect us to just accept it.  Obviously you don't deserve the toys if you can not afford that package.  Is it because you're not a big enough fan?  Is it because you can not afford the ransom?  Is it because you're not willing to be forced to pay for something you don't want to get what you do?  Each of you will answer differently but Master Collector won't care one way or the other because this is what they want and who cares what you want or can afford.  This demonstrates a lack of willingness to treat us as valued customers and that is insulting.

 

 

I do not fear change, as has been suggested...in fact, I welcome change when necessary but, at the same time, I will not lay back and accept unacceptable changes that are unfair to at least half of this fandom.  A customer shouldn't be forced to purchase extra services or products to get the one or two things they want, or be ignored while they seek help.  Why not just raise the cost of the basic registration from the past of $40.00 to around $60.00?  Why not increase the costs of the toys slightly?  Why must they insist we pay for extra stuff to grant us the same priviledges that a basic registration should contain or the chance to buy the toys?  Why will they not explain how the Protoform package breaks down cost wise?  Why do they use the fan club as an excuse to gouge non-members on prices?  Why do they refuse to answer these questions?  I'll tell you why.  It's because being a fan doesn't make you good enough, and what a majority of us want or can afford isn’t a concern.  The only thing that matters to them is bleeding as much money out of us as they can by restricting our choices to the point where we have to buy everything to get the few things we want.  Something by the fans for the fans and where everyone can attend has been corrupted into a perverse opposite of everything it stood for.  Will you remain quiet and do nothing about it or will you have the courage to stand up and boycott it?

You're right on many counts...

 

 

but I'm going to do everything I can to go.  I don't think a boycott will work.  If people really can't afford to go, they won't.  Attendence is down.  Maybe they'll lower costs. 

 

If no one goes, they may quit having a con.

I agree with Shadow -- the con will be "boycotted" by default by those who can't afford to go or who won't pay that much to see a bunch of toys. If they price themselves out of the market, they'll know it.

A boycott helps ensure that they know WHY attendance is down. The more people that say, I can no longer afford to go, I'm not going to break myself finacially to go and the more people that say they CAN afford to go but have decided not to go , the more the message will get out there.

 

The fact is, if we wait to see what  happens and enough people get suckered into paying , we're stuck with this problem for a while. We need to voice our displeasure NOW.

Well, I'll voice my opinion in person at the con.  you do what you feel is best.

The exclusives are expensive BECUSE THERE EXCLUSIVES. This is the moast Exclusives he have ever been offered in 1 year, and all of them are Remods.

X-Bob I think you missed the entire point of what I had to say.  In no way have I said the exclusives are to much.  I said we shouldn't be forced to pay for other stuff to get the exclusives.  No one even knows what we're being charged for the exclusives because they refuse to explain how any of the package price totals breakdown.  What is entirely to expensive is the Protoform package.  You might want to give what I said another look and not skim over it.

The days of being able to attend a Botcon or official Transformers convention at an affordable price for the majority have come to an end by unfair changes.  You'll notice when you look at the registration form that acceptable choices are no longer available to chose from.  There has also been a lack of clear explanation about the changes that have been made from previous conventions and, a refusal to maintain a proper dialogue with the fans through the forums.  This take "all or nothing, take it or leave it "attitude can not be allowed to continue and it must end here and now.

 

3H wasn't making any money and couldn't pay for things.  This time, they're charging more so they can get a profit.  I can't disagree with that.  If they make a profit, I'm sure better things will come.  The dinner, casino night, and whatever else should be optional.  Otherwise, I see nothing wrong with the packages.  The prices are high, but after calming down, I understand the need for it. 

 

Numerous people are now no longer able to afford to attend Botcon 2005 since they released their prices.  Now that Master Collector has taken over the convention you have three choices if you attend the show.  We can take our chances with the $9.00 walk-in option that only gurantees attendance to the dealer room. We can pay $120.00 ($165.00 if you aren't a fan club member) just to get what you used to get for $40.00 except we are no longer offered a chance to buy the toys and are forced to pay for a casino night and a badge.  We can pay $265.00 ($315.00 if you aren't a club member) where we are required to pay for a dinner and a casino night, whether you participate or not, and it's the only package that contains the toys.  Obviously very few people are going to take their chances and fly in and pay for a hotel room to take their chances with $9.00 so the only reason that is offered is to talk us into the $120.00 ($165.00) package.  The problem with that package is the cost has tripled from previous years and added a penalty if you aren't a fan club member by quadrupling the cost, and the only extra stuff you get is a badge and $25.00 in casino chips.  What they should have done was slightly increased the cost of each event and item allowing people to still choose what they want to pay for while still providing an increased profit for the convention which would have helped everyone out.

 

I wanted to go this year, but the price for registration, travel and hotel stay is around $1,500.  There are many that can afford this now and many that cannot.  One factor is that it is one during school, which means attendance will be down either way.  This gives those that can't go this year time to save and prepare to go next year.  We know the prices now, and perhaps next year the prices will be a little lower.

 

Pete and Alverez are both members of the Botcon advisory panel, yet, in their replies they give no answers to the questions asked.  Instead of trying to help, they put out a simplistic sales pitch which boils down to “this is the way it is, it makes sense to us, you should come anyway, you have options, and it's a great valueâ€? spiel used to steamroll over questions and concerns to avoid any sort of real explanation to the fandom.  You won't hear the non member price in any of their sales pitches or justifications though.  They will compare the everybody-price of 2004 with their discounted price if you pay their $40.00 fan club membership premium.  Even after being told a sales pitch wasn't an acceptable answer and asked why they kept leaving out the non-member price, it's all that was continued to be said.  Opposition to their comments began to grow and they dealt with it by saying they would no longer talk about those questions or concerns, only new ones. Then they said increased profits were the reason for the registration changes and to not fear change.  When asked how the Protoform package broke down cost wise, how it was more profitable, and where the bulk of the profit came from, it went unanswered showing further proof they lacked any concern about the complaints or people's opinions and that they aren't really listening. 

 

They want to correct mistakes from the past and make money this time.  Comparing was an attempt to get people to see that they would have or had spent the same at OTFCC 2004.  I cannot see why making a profit is wrong.  Making a profit means better things, as I mentioned earlier.

 

Why aren't they listening to comments where people are saying they can no longer afford to go?  Why can we not get at least a semi-detailed answer that actually explains the whys?  How can they sit there and continue to say this will be profitable and that it's a good idea as attendance falls?  They are ignoring and alienating their customers who are already upset and only want solid information as to the why's and how's of the new changes.  In most business settings this leads to irritated customers that will usually take their business elsewhere.  Yet, they just shrug their shoulders and continue to say "all or nothing".  Again, it's an all or nothing attitude that shows Master Collector doesn't care what you want to pay for and what you don’t;  It's simply their way or the highway and they expect us to just accept it.  Obviously you don't deserve the toys if you can not afford that package.  Is it because you're not a big enough fan?  Is it because you can not afford the ransom?  Is it because you're not willing to be forced to pay for something you don't want to get what you do?  Each of you will answer differently but Master Collector won't care one way or the other because this is what they want and who cares what you want or can afford.  This demonstrates a lack of willingness to treat us as valued customers and that is insulting.

 

You're basically just repeating yourself here.  You complained about the price and how it's "all or nothing" in your first paragraph.  This is practically the same, just worded differently.

 

I do not fear change, as has been suggested...in fact, I welcome change when necessary but, at the same time, I will not lay back and accept unacceptable changes that are unfair to at least half of this fandom.  A customer shouldn't be forced to purchase extra services or products to get the one or two things they want, or be ignored while they seek help.  Why not just raise the cost of the basic registration from the past of $40.00 to around $60.00?  Why not increase the costs of the toys slightly?  Why must they insist we pay for extra stuff to grant us the same priviledges that a basic registration should contain or the chance to buy the toys?  Why will they not explain how the Protoform package breaks down cost wise?  Why do they use the fan club as an excuse to gouge non-members on prices?  Why do they refuse to answer these questions?

 

Again, you repeat yourself.  Only new thing in this paragraph is the Protoform package.  It would be nice to see a breakdown for the packages.

 

I'll tell you why.  It's because being a fan doesn't make you good enough, and what a majority of us want or can afford isn’t a concern.  The only thing that matters to them is bleeding as much money out of us as they can by restricting our choices to the point where we have to buy everything to get the few things we want.  Something by the fans for the fans and where everyone can attend has been corrupted into a perverse opposite of everything it stood for.  Will you remain quiet and do nothing about it or will you have the courage to stand up and boycott it?

 

I highly doubt they're out to split the fandom into groups.  They're trying to fix a problem that was let continue for too long.  I think they know attendance will suffer.  But how much is up in the air.

 

They're trying to make money this time.  If that means some people can't go, well then I guess we're screwed.  I'll just have to plan to go next year.

 

Get a package and just boycott the dinner, casino night, and whatever else you don't like.  IMO, this is the best way to voice your hate over these things.

 

I'll be getting the Iacon Package.  It's the same as the Primus package, but I'd rather pay $265 than $1,500.  I understand the need to have this price the same, otherwise no one would go.

you mentioned Alverez...is this the same Alverez that wrote the 4 loose guide books for TF's?

 

I have had no desire to go to the botcons because I fell a con of anykind should have 2 options period: pay at the door, or pre register with a few benifits (ie a simple exclusive or a diner event and early access to dealers). Anything more should be sold individualy and at an affordable rate, $5-20 depending on what's being offered. Too many cons are about the money only. The fans have become nothing more than more money in a companies pockets...how sad. My long future goal is to orginize a mid US Transformer con for the fans. Maybe one day, maybe not, but untill then I'll skip those botcons...buy my toys later down the line.

Yea well when you write a persuassive argument this is the oformat you use.  Of corse things from the first paragraph are repeated because the first paragraph introduces you to them while the three body paragraphs delve into their details.  Then of course they are summed up in the fifth paragraph so I don't know why you brought up the structure of this since it's in proper form.

 

Anyway there's nothing wrong with making a profit, but increasing the attendence price that much though isn't a neccesity.  I was prepared for an increase in attendance prices but I never thought they would have broken $60.00 and I see nothing to justify it other than a I think we can get away with it attitude.

 

Getting a package and paying for items or events  then not going to those events or taking those items proves nothing.  Your logic there is very flawed because all that proves is that you were willing to pay for them even though you didn't want to and that you'll probably do it again.  That's exactly what I don't want to support and what I want to put an end to.

 

*edit*  Yes ErikB, I meant J.E. Alverez.